October 20, 2019 TORONTO –The election of a Liberal minority government, with the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois holding the balance of power gives workers a strong voice in Parliament. “This election was always about workers and big questions. How can we create good paying jobs, provide vital services including healthcare, and confront climate change as a country? Canadian voters delivered an answer on how today- we’ll do it together,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. Unifor actively opposed the Conservative election agenda with a successful campaign to Stop Scheer.
REGINA—As the province-wide service disruption enters its third week, Unifor has offered to go to binding arbitration on outstanding monetary issues with employers.
“Unifor members want to return to serving the people of Saskatchewan, but they won’t do it without a fair contract or a commitment from the Crowns to arbitration,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “If the Crowns agree to this reasonable offer, nearly 5,000 Crown workers could be back at work tomorrow.”
REGINA—After a day of dialogue with Crown employers, Unifor National President Jerry Dias will hold a media availability to provide an update on Crown sector bargaining.
WHAT: Crowns sector bargaining update WHO: Unifor National President Jerry Dias and other local union leaders WHEN: October 18 at 5 p.m. WHERE: SaskPower headquarters, 2025 Victoria Avenue, Regina
TORONTO—Today labour activists from across Ontario occupied Doug Ford’s office to demand action from the provincial government to prevent workplace death and injuries at Fiera Foods.
“Desperate times call for extreme measures and the situation at Fiera Foods is certainly desperate,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We are calling on the Doug Ford government to protect precarious workers like those at Fiera Foods and we won’t take silence as an answer.”
REGINA—The construction of on-site living quarters for scab labour by the Co-op Refinery is only going to derail contract talks, warns Unifor.
“Making plans to bus scabs in to an active refinery is going to totally disrupt good-faith bargaining,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “It’s reckless and unnecessary.”
October 10, 2019 VANCOUVER – Unifor members at Coast Mountain Bus Company have delivered an overwhelming 99 per cent strike mandate, after negotiations for a new collective agreement broke off on October 3, 2019. “Our members take the responsibility of providing safe, dependable public transportation seriously and they’re asking Coast Mountain to properly recognize the dedication and effort that the workers put in day in and day out to properly deliver it,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
REGINA—Members from Unifor’s six Crowns are disappointed to announce that the Water Security Agency agreed to a tentative agreement that includes the two-year wage freeze imposed by the Scott Moe government.
VANCOUVER – Unifor Coast Mountain Bus Company members will conduct a strike vote on Thursday, October 10, 2019.
“This strike vote takes place following months of negotiations with Coast Mountain,” said Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle. “This is an opportunity for our members to voice their concerns and vote ahead of the resumption of negotiations with the company on October 15.”
TORONTO—Shortly after serving 72-hour strike notice, Unifor Local 114 has secured a new tentative agreement for Dynamex Couriers, a subsidiary of Transforce.
“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for achieving their goals,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Dynamex Couriers have earned a fair contract.”
Unifor launched a new Ontario-wide campaign today that takes the Doug Ford government to task on its drastic budget cuts to municipalities, health care, and education, as well as the anti-worker legislation it plans to introduce when parliament returns later this fall.
REGINA—After announcing a return to work earlier today, SaskTel workers have now been locked out by the employer, triggering a cancellation of the planned return to work at other Crown corporations.
“Just when we thought Scott Moe couldn’t make things worse, he proved us wrong, from Asia no less,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The provincial government engineered a strike by Crown workers by imposing a wage freeze, now it stands idly by while SaskTel workers are prevented from returning to work.”
Each October 7 we mark the World Day for Decent Work (WDDW) with international labour organizations renewing the demand for good pay and working conditions and the call for social justice for workers and our families.
TORONTO—Transforce’s failure to make a fair wage offer to their Dynamex Couriers has forced their union to serve 72-hour strike notice.
“The boom of e-commerce is happening on the backs of couriers,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “It’s time Transforce share their success with the workers that keep it in business.”
REGINA—5,000 striking Crown workers will be back at work on Tuesday after Premier Scott Moe left the province in the middle of the largest strike action in decades.
“Premier Moe caused the strike, and now he has fled the province and his responsibilities” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Unifor retains the legal right to resume picket lines if necessary.
KAMLOOPS—Unifor 10-B members working at Dearborn Ford (a subsidiary of Cam Clark Auto Group) have voted to ratify a new three-year collective agreement that includes wage increases and a pension enhancement.
“The new collective agreement at Dearborn Ford is the result of tough bargaining and impressive solidarity,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The bargaining committee and the entire unit should be proud of their work.”
